The construction industry has historically been male-dominated, but technological advancement and efforts to increase gender diversity are gradually chipping away at this stereotype.
Women are slowly entering the industry despite their numbers being significantly underrepresented.
Women in Construction
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that in 2022, of 7.7 million workers and professionals in the construction industry, 14% are women (What percentage, 2024).
The U.K.’s APM surveys show that the male-to-female project practitioners ratio is 70% to 30%, with females making up only 12.5% of the construction industry workforce (Gender diversity, 2024). In New Zealand, the construction sector is set to reach 160,200 workers by 2027, but currently, women only represent 14% of the total.
Technology’s role in providing equal opportunities for women
A survey by the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) in 2021 shows that 71% of respondents feel that opportunities for women in construction are increasing across various professional, trade, and administration fields. The gender pay gap is significantly smaller, says Crissy Ingram, executive director of NAWIC. On average, women in construction earn 99.1% of their male colleagues (Survey Shows, 2021).
Thanks to technology, it is gradually leveling the playing field for women in construction, taking out the brute strength of the construction equation while giving women a chance to seize equal opportunities in the industry, according to an article in WorkMax.
Increased connectivity and communications and advancements in computer technology have allowed on-site and remote work. Automation, robotics, and digital tools have transformed the construction industry, and the increasing use of heavy equipment has helped alleviate the physical barriers traditionally associated with construction work and opened up new skills that gave women an equal opportunity with men.
Why more women are getting into the construction industry
According to an article in Surety Bond Professionals, the construction industry in the U.S. has been seeing an influx of women even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
The reasons for this are the aging workforce and the decline in the number of young people entering the trades, leading recruiters to look beyond the male pool to fill the work gap. Since 2016, a steady number of women have been entering the field.
Empowering women in construction
Local, national, and international programs to make it easier for women to get trained, hired, and stay in the industry long-term have emerged as a response to the changes. An example of these organizations is the Chicago Women in Trade, which opened in 2016 to support women in construction.
The U.S. Department of Commerce announced its Million Women in Construction initiative in October 2022, intending to bring another million women into the construction industry over the next ten years.
The NAWIC was founded in Texas in 1952 by 16 women. Since then, the organization has spread internationally, with branches in the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Aotearoa/New Zealand, and, most recently, Qatar.
Importance of diversity
Supporting gender diversity and providing more opportunities for women in engineering and construction will be essential to creating a talent pipeline to meet global and local demands.
OneStaff provides tips on encouraging and retaining more women in construction, beginning with recruitment. First of all, considering blind screening job applications can stamp out bias and stereotyping that favors men. Ensuring that PPEs designed for women’s physiques are available creates a safe environment for them.
Promoting female models can inspire women to follow in their footsteps, and creating an inclusive atmosphere, such as networking opportunities and mentoring schemes, helps them connect with other women across the organization.
Diversity brings more success. Perhaps some construction industries still unsure of hiring or growing the number of women should consider the 2023 McKinsey & Co. report that more women in the workforce means more financial success for the business.
According to the report, companies with representation of women exceeding 30% are significantly more likely to outperform those with fewer women financially. Apart from gender, the report also shows that companies with more ethnic diversity show a 27% financial advantage over those without.
The construction industry is seeing a gradual increase in the number of women in the industry as a response to the workforce and skills shortage demands locally, nationally, and internationally. Technological advancements are transforming the workplace, removing physical barriers, and increasingly giving women equal opportunity.
However, women are still significantly underrepresented. Industry reforms include eliminating biases and stereotypes and making the environment safer for women.
As a survey shows, these can improve women’s numbers in the industry, and companies that have opened their doors to diversity have achieved financial success.
Source:
Women in the Construction Industry. (2023, March 17). OneStaff. Retrieved from https://www.onestaff.co.nz/blog/women-in-the-construction-industry/
Gender diversity in the project profession. (2024). APM. Retrieved from https://www.apm.org.uk/resources/find-a-resource/women-in-projects-levelling-the-playing-field/
Technology Levels the Playing Field for Women in Construction. (2023, March 1). WorkMax. Retrieved from https://workmax.com/technology-levels-the-playing-field-for-women-in-construction/
Diversity matters even more: The case for holistic impact. (2023, December 5). McKinsey & Company. Retrieved from https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/diversity-matters-even-more-the-case-for-holistic-impact
What Percentage of Construction Workers Are Female? (2024). Sure Bond Professionals. Retrieved from https://www.suretybondprofessionals.com/what-percentage-of-construction-workers-are-female Schultz, B. (2021, March 8). Survey
Shows Job Opportunities for Women in Construction Are On the Rise. For Construction Pros.com Retrieved from https://www.forconstructionpros.com/business/news/21318978/national-association-of-women-in-construction-survey-shows-job-opportunities-for-women-in-construction-are-on-the-rise
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